Bag dispensing system
A bag and system for dispensing thermoplastic bags or the like from a stack of bags. The present system is configured for point of use dispensing to a customer, such as in the produce section of a grocery store or market. Each bag pack is dispensed from a station which includes an underlying, medially situated, angled bag pack support, configured to provide optimal support for the user in opening and removing the bag to be dispensed from the bag pack. Further contemplated is a unique cover which partially envelopes the bag pack to be dispensed, the cover defining an opening formed therethrough for the dispensing of bags therethrough, the opening configured to define the area for optimal dispensing of the bags while maintaining the remaining bags in a uniform bag pack. The cover not only facilitates uniform dispensing of bags from the pack, but also holds the pack down when the system is used in windy conditions.
1. A system for dispensing a plastic bag from a plurality of stacked plastic bags to form a pack, comprising: first and second retaining means for releaseably retaining said bags forming said pack; a medial support situated in between said first and second retaining means, said medial support having a declining support piece emanating in declining fashion relative to the horizontal at about said first and second retaining means, said declining support piece formed so as to support said pack in order to enable a user to apply pressure to said plastic bag and receive support thereunder, and a cover having dimensions adequate to cover a portion of said pack, said cover having formed therein a dispensing aperture situated adjacent to said declining support piece, said dispensing aperture situated so as to require a user to contact a bag forming part of said bag pack, said bag situated between said dispensing aperture and said declining support piece.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said medial support is formed of bent wire.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said medial support has a declining angle relative to the horizontal within a range of five to ninety degrees relative to the horizontal.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein said retaining means comprises first and second hooks.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein said pack has formed therein first and second support apertures situated so as to engage said first and second retaining means.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said pack engages said first and second retaining means via said first and second support apertures, such that said pack is supported via said first and second retaining means, and said pack is supported via said medial support member.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein said cover comprises a dispensing frame comprising first and second rods having first and second ends, said first and second rods spaced in parallel fashion and pivotally connected to said medial support at said first end, and a lower cover plate joining said second ends of said first and second rods, said dispensing frame configured to rest upon said pack so as to form a dispensing area defined between the first and second rods.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein said cover is situated to frictionally contact a bag forming said pack when said bag is pulled through said dispensing aperture, while retaining said bags forming said pack in a stacked, aligned manner.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein said bags forming said bag pack are removably attached to said retaining means via tear-through apertures.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein said first and second retaining means and said medial support forms a dispensing station, and wherein said dispensing station is supported via a vertical support having a base.
11. The method of dispensing a plastic bag from a plurality of stacked plastic bags releaseably attached to one another so as to form a pack, comprising the steps of:
a) providing: first and second retaining means for releaseably supporting said pack; a medial support situated between said first and second retaining means, said medial support formed so as to support said pack in order to enable a user to apply pressure to said plastic bag and receive underlying support thereunder; a cover having dimensions adequate to cover a portion of said pack, said cover having formed therein an open area defining a dispensing area situated in the vicinity of said medial support;
b) affixing said pack to said retaining means such that said plastic bag is situated on top of said pack, and said medial support is situated under said pack;
c) applying pressure to said plastic bag in an area on said plastic bag where said plastic bag receives underlying support from said medical support, while utilizing said dispensing area formed in said cover to direct the user to apply pressure to said plastic bag in an area on said plastic bag wherein said plastic bag receives underlying support from said medical support;
d) directing said pressure to said plastic bag away from said retaining means, so as to release said bag from said retaining means and said pack, with said medial support continuing to support said pack in the area in which said pressure is applied;
f) removing said bag from said rack.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said pack has back, upper and lower front portions, and first and second side edges and wherein said cover referenced in step “a” said cover is formed to-envelope at least a medial portion of said first and second side edges and said lower front portion of said pack. and wherein in step “c” there is provided the additional step of utilizing said cover to prevent said user from accessing the first and second side edges and lower front portion of said pack.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein there is provided the further step of utilizing said cover to retain said pack in a uniform stack, by allowing said cover to form an enclosure for the sides of said pack.
14. A bag dispensing system, comprising: a plurality of stacked, aligned bags detachably secured to one another to form a bag pack; a rack for retaining said bag pack, said rack comprising a dispenser station comprising: first and second retaining means for engaging said bag pack; a medial support situated in between said first and second retaining means, said medial support formed so as to support said pack in order to enable a user to apply pressure to said plastic bag and receive underlying support from said medial support, and a cover having dimensions adequate to cover a portion of said pack, said cover having formed therein a dispensing aperture situated adjacent to said medial support, said dispensing aperture situated so as to require a user to contact a bag forming part of said bag pack, said bag situated between said dispensing aperture and said medial support.
15. The bag dispensing system of claim 14 , wherein said bag pack has back, upper and lower front portions, and first and second side edges, and wherein said cover comprises a wire cage enveloping the back, first and second side edges and said lower front portion of said bag pack.